Polytechnic Lecturers Begin Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has begun an indefinite strike over what it described as consistent failure on the part of the Federal Government to implement agreements it willingly signed with the union since 2010.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja yesterday, ASUP National President Usman Dutse said since 2010 when the agreement was signed, they have consistently engaged with the government leading to the signing of several memorandums.

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But, he alleged that the government has failed to implement the agreement.

Dutse said the issues in contention include: conditions of service for members of the union; review of obsolete legal regimes and other policy documents, which serve as governing instruments in the sector; nonexistence/ deplorable state of the existing facilities, including classrooms, libraries, students’ hostels, laboratories, workshops, studios and office accommodation.

Others include: discriminatory policies against the sector and its products, victimisation of union leaders and non-payment of members’ salaries in several states.

According to him, “For each of these outlined above, the government has always agreed to implement agreements aimed at the requisite interventions and a turnaround of the sector. Regrettably, it’s been a consistent story of woes and disappointments.

“The issues in contention are well rehearsed, taking roots in the provisions of the originating document (2010 ASUP/FGN Agreement). To make matters worse, government has been making fresh inroads in its penchant for undermining the sector by pursuing the implementation of policies with the ultimate aim of treating symptoms of an ailment and at the same time allowing same ailment to devour the diseased sector.”

He said other grievances of the union include the non-implementation of the NEEDS assessment report, non-payment of salaries of state-owned polytechnics, non-payment of allowances and shortfall in personnel releases to polytechnics, the non-release of the reviewed scheme of service and condition of service as well as the delay in assenting to the reviewed Polytechnics Act among others.

He said the union has been left with no other option than the painful path of embarking on an indefinite strike in its bid to save the sector from collapse.